This Week's iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV News

So we can post our three news roundups (Mac News Review, The 'Book
Review, and iNews Review) earlier, we first do a quick proofread and
link check, leaving out images. We add images later when time permits.
dk

iPod Deals

News, Reviews, & Opinion

5.6" and 7" iPads Rumored

DigiTimes' Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai report that according to
their component-maker sources, Apple is ramping up plans to launch its
second-generation iPad with the addition
5.6" and 7" OLED display panel options, possibly as soon as Q4 2010,
based on Apple recently placing new iPad orders to Taiwan-based
component makers for Q4 2010 and Q1 2011 with 9.7", 5.6", and 7" models
all included.

Chen and Tsai note that the 9.7" iPad will see some minor changes,
and Apple will add Chimei Innolux (CMI) as one of its panel suppliers,
with the new 5.6" and 7" iPads to mainly target the ebook reader
market.

The report also observes that Samsung Electronics and LG Display
have recently "been throwing heavy resources" into OLED development,
and that with costs dropping gradually and Apple's combination of brand
image and high average selling price, it should have no problem
adopting OLED panels.

How People Are Using the iPad

Mashable's Christina Warren reports:

"Resolve Market Research has just completed a comprehensive study
that looks at how the iPad is being used, and how the iPad is impacting
other technology devices like e-readers, portable gaming consoles and
netbooks.

"The study, which was conducted online across a nationally
representative sample, compared technology owners or people that intend
to own devices in four different categories: the iPad, smartphones
(including iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys), e-readers and portable
video game devices. The study also focused on how users perceive the
iPad both before and after owning the device.

"The study has some interesting, and in some cases surprising,
results...."

Charging the iPhone 4: AC Adapter Faster than
USB

WhenWillApple's Justin Horn says:

"Almost 2 years ago I did this comparison for the iPhone 3G. As the
3GS was similar to the 3G and it's a time consuming pain in the ass to
do this test, I decided to skip it last year. To make up for my break,
I tried to make this test a bigger pain by taking readings every 5
minutes. The extra work paid off, the iPhone 4 charging chart is much
smoother and accurate!"

Explosive Changes in Consumer Demand Shake Up
Smartphone Industry

PR: ChangeWave's latest smartphone survey of 4,028 consumers
shows an explosive transformation occurring in consumer demand -
resulting in some major new winners and losers for second half
2010.

The survey - completed June 24th - took a close-up look at consumer
demand for the new Apple iPhone 4 and the HTC Droid Incredible, along
with the impact these and other offerings are having on the rest of the
smartphone industry.

Among key emerging trends:

Next 90 day projections show the most extensive growth in consumer
smartphone sales ever recorded in a ChangeWave survey.

Big leaps forward for Apple and HTC are occurring at the expense of
Motorola and RIM.

The accompanying transformation in mobile OS preferences is being
led by a huge increase in demand for the Apple OS and an accelerating
downturn for the RIM OS.

Smart Phone Growth

Consumer smartphone planned buying going forward is at an all-time
high for a ChangeWave survey - with 16.4% of respondents in our latest
survey saying they plan on buying a smartphone in the next 90 days.

cw0714101.gif

We note that overall buying plans going forward are significantly
higher than they were a year ago at the start of the iPhone 3GS
release.

Smart Phone Market Share

At the individual manufacturers' level, the survey findings show a
major leap forward for Apple and HTC at the expense of RIM and
Motorola.

In terms of current share, Apple (34%) is up 1-pt since our March
survey to an all-time high while RIM (34%) has taken another hit -
dropping 4-pts in the past 90 days.

Android phones continue to have a major impact on the market, with
HTC (8%; up 2-pts) and its new Droid Incredible and EVO models the
biggest beneficiary. Motorola (6%), who in recent surveys had
registered a wave of new demand for their Droid model, remains
unchanged in the current survey.

But it's when we look at future buying plans that the huge moves
upward for Apple and HTC become most apparent. The new Apple iPhone 4
is driving much of the industry's growth going forward, with more than
one-in-two (52%) respondents who plan to buy a smartphone in the next
90 days saying they'll get an Apple iPhone - an explosive 21-pt leap
over our previous survey.

cw0714102.gif

HTC (19%) also shows a huge improvement going forward - registering
a 7-pt jump in terms of future buying plans. On the other hand,
Motorola (9%) has declined 7-pts since previously.

In short, as the following chart shows, the market for Android
phones over the next 90 days has shifted to HTC while Motorola's rise
huge rise over the previous two surveys has stalled out.

cw0714103.gif

Importantly, the biggest loser of all in the current survey is RIM
(6%), which has registered an 8-pt drop to its lowest level ever in a
ChangeWave survey.

Palm has also been buried in the wave of momentum for Apple and HTC.
For the first time in a ChangeWave survey, Palm is registering less
than 1% of planned smartphone purchases going forward.

Customer Satisfaction. Satisfaction among existing customers helps
explain much of the momentum shift in the smartphone market. The Apple
iPhone continues to lead all other cell phone manufacturers, with 73%
of owners reporting they are Very Satisfied with their iPhone.

cw0714104.gif

HTC - with 39% of their customers saying they're Very Satisfied -
comes in second, followed by Motorola (34%) and Palm (34%).

In a clear sign of what's most hurting RIM, the Canadian
manufacturer has fallen to sixth place in terms of customer
satisfaction (30%) - their seventh consecutive quarterly decline. To
put this in perspective, the following chart compares Apple's Very
Satisfied rating with Research in Motion's over the last three years of
ChangeWave surveys:

cw0714105.gif

Bottom Line: The new iPhone 4 and the iOS 4 have brought about a
huge spike in demand for Apple going forward. In addition, HTC has
grabbed the lead in Android OS phones based upon the huge momentum of
its Droid Incredible and that of other HTC Android models, including
the new EVO 4G.

The combined momentum of these latest Apple and HTC offerings has
catapulted consumer interest in smartphones to unprecedented levels -
with consumer planned buying now at an all-time high for a ChangeWave
survey.

Importantly, the momentum for Apple and HTC is occurring at the
expense of other smartphone manufacturers - Motorola and Research in
Motion in particular.

Motorola - previously the Android leader with the astonishing
success of its Droid model - has seen its rise at least temporarily
upended by the latest HTC offerings. However, the recent unveiling of
MOT's new Droid X device - featuring a 4.3" display, which the company
believes is ideal for watching video (in contrast, the iPhone 4 only
has a 3.5" display) - suggests it's determined to fight back to regain
its Android leadership mantle.

The market situation for RIM appears far more problematic, at least
short term. RIM's customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted for the
past 7 quarters, and planned buying among consumers is at the lowest
levels ever recorded for RIM in a ChangeWave survey.

In short, in recent quarters RIM models appear to have lost their
'cool factor,' and the onus is now squarely on RIM to regain consumers'
confidence in their products. To do so they need new, highly compelling
offerings that can compete on an equal footing with the best that Apple
and Android have to offer. Otherwise, RIM's future growth may
increasingly be limited to the success or failure of its lower cost
models on the international market.

Adding a Carl Zeiss SLR Lens to Your iPhone 4

TUAW's Steven Sande reports:

"If the 5x digital zoom on the iPhone 4's 5 MP digital camera
doesn't make your heart pound with joy, maybe you should dig out some
of those lenses from the SLR film camera that you're not using anymore
and use 'em with your iPhone."

Apps & Services

Kraft Foods Launches Big Fork Little Fork App
Exclusive to iPad

PR: Kraft Foods announced the release of the new Big Fork
Little Fork app, now available in the United States only on iPad. Big
Fork Little Fork provides parents with an interactive resource to help
them teach their children valuable cooking knowledge, smart eating
habits and basic kitchen skills. The app features 300 delicious
recipes, how-to videos, entertaining and educational games, and
interactive elements to help transform the way parents involve their
kids at mealtime. Following the 2008 launch of the iFood Assistant app,
this new iPad app demonstrates Kraft Foods ability and commitment to
leveraging new technology to engage consumers in innovative ways,
making their lives easier and more delicious.

bflftq.jpg

"Kraft Foods understands that parents are hungry for food ideas that
their kids will enjoy," says Ed Kaczmarek, Director of Innovation,
Consumer Experiences at Kraft Foods. "Our Big Fork Little Fork app is
specifically designed to answer that need and is set to transform how
families approach cooking and eating together. We see the iPad as the
ideal device to host our newly developed content it's a highly
interactive way for parents to engage with the app both in the kitchen
and around the home."

bflf-category-produce-info.jpg

According to a recent study, last year alone, 37 million Web
searches were conducted for family and kids food-related resources1,
yet no dominant source exists for this type of information. The Big
Fork Little Fork app will help make mealtimes a teaching occasion, a
fun experience and a bonding moment while keeping kids engaged and
entertained.

"Big Fork Little Fork is one of the most groundbreaking experiences
to have been unleashed on the iPad," says Derek Handley Cofounder and
CEO, The Hyperfactory. "It illustrates the creativity with which this
device can change the game for brands wanting to innovate how they
interact with consumers."

Kraft Foods will continue to grow the content available for the Big
Fork Little Fork app. Starting this fall, Kraft Foods will partner with
a select group of celebrity chefs to develop chef-branded content packs
available for download through in-app purchase. Marcus Samuelsson,
winner of Top Chef Masters, will be the first featured chef showcasing
his recipes, tips and photos, and bringing his global perspective of
food and flavors to Big Fork Little Fork.

bflf.gif

The Big Fork Little Fork iPad app is available for $1.99 from the
App Store

BA Financial Calculator Comes to iPad

PR: Vicinno Soft announces the release and immediate
availability of BA Financial Calculator 1.0 for iPad, an iPad version
of their best-selling emulator for the classic Texas Instruments BA II
Plus. Identical in every aspect, the app provides a perfect emulation
of the layout, functions, algorithms, capabilities, and key sequences
of the venerable TI workhorse. Ideal for courses in Accounting,
Economics, Finance, Marketing, Mathematics, Sciences, Real Estate, and
Statistics, it is an ideal financial calculator for iPad.

Released in 1978, the Texas Instruments Business Analyst II Plus
calculator quickly became a standard among finance and accounting
professionals. The device incorporates a vast array of functions, yet
remains simple to learn and use. The model is one of only two
calculators permitted on the Chartered Financial Analyst exam and the
Society of Actuaries exam. Perhaps in tribute to its heritage, the
read-out's simple black alphanumerics on a gray background maintain the
blocky, LCD font of the original device.

Feature Highlights:

Time-Value-of-Money calculations

Amortization schedules

Cash-Flow Analysis, Net Present Value, and Internal Rate of
Return

Depreciation with four different methodologies

Break even, profit, and percent difference calculations

Bond prices and yields "to maturity" or "to call" calculations

10 Memories for storage

Choice of Chain and Algebraic Operating System methods

Scientific capabilities, including log, sin, cos, etc.

Key click sounds enabled via Settings

Just as the TI calculator, the app has two modes of operation:
standard calculator and worksheet. The standard mode accommodates
common mathematical operations, plus problems involving the time value
of money, such as mortgages and annuities where payments are equal and
evenly spaced. Trigonometric functions are also supported in standard
mode.

The more complex worksheet mode provides step-by-step instructions
for calculating amortization, depreciation, bond, and compound
interest. All entries and results are saved in working memory, so
recurring values are easily accessed. Basic interest and payment
periods are well within the capabilities of the average user.

The iPad version includes a complete redesign of the graphical
representation of the calculator for iPad. The numerical keypad is now
light gray with white numerals, function keys are black with white
symbols, and alternate characters are above each key in orange. Four
colors: white, black, light gray, and orange make for excellent
ergonomics, and an optional click sound with each tap provides
additional feedback. And while the face and keyboard support only US
English, operating manuals are available on the Vicinno website for the
following languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish,
Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, and Finnish, and are all accessible
from within the app.

"BA Financial Calculator iPhone and iPod Version has been ranked
within TOP 10 in Finance of more than 20 countries," commented CEO
Liping Yang. "as the only BA II Plus calculator iPad app in App Store,
the iPad version with more attractive features and redesign for iPad
big screen will soon get more attention! "

Device Requirements:

Compatible with iPad

Requires iOS 3.2 or later

1.8 MB

The BA Financial Calculator 1.0 for iPad is $4.99 (or equivalent in
other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App
Store in the Finance category. The BA Financial Calculator Lite model
is free. Review copies are available upon request.

Dazzling Flashlight 4g: High Power LED Flashlight
App for iPhone 4

PR: Cramzy announces the introduction of Dazzling Flashlight
4g 1.0, their high power, LED flashlight app for iPhone 4. With
FaceTime, iPhone 4's video calling feature, Apple has incorporated a
miniature LED camera light next to the video lens. The new Dazzling
Flashlight 4g app allows the user to activate this light independent of
any photo or video recording, creating a handy, powerful flashlight.
Soft white light from the Retina display screen may be added, providing
illumination in both directions, or either light source may be
activated individually.

fl.jpg

Amazingly, there are over 175 apps in the Apple App Store that add
flashlight functionality to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Considering the iPhone is one of the few items a person may carry with
them everywhere, it makes sense to offer an app that provides extra
illumination in unexpected situations. But inventive developers have
created book lights, emergency lights, colored lights, photographic
softlights, etc., priced from $19.99 to free.

Feature Highlights:

Dazzling Flashlight 4g uses the built-in LED video light on the
iPhone 4

The LED provides bright, focused light anytime, anywhere

The highly efficient LED can supply light for hours on a full
charge

The Retina display screen can also be activated to provide
additional light

Now, to enable indoor, High Definition, 720P video at 30 frames per
second, Apple has had no alternative but to include a dedicated,
photographic light source. The tiny white LED produces a surprising
amount of illumination, far surpassing the output of any ersatz
predecessors. Ideal for unlocking car doors, reading street signs,
finding a flashlight in a blackout, navigating dark streets on foot, or
searching through a handbag, Dazzling Flashlight 4g provides instant
illumination and safety in the dark.

"Users have been asking for a built-in photo flash for their iPhones
for years," commented Iliya Yordanov, Cofounder of Cramzy with his wife
Maria. "Finally, HD video made a photo/video light a necessity, and so
now the iPhone can be used as a real flashlight whenever needed, using
Dazzling Flashlight 4g."

Device Requirements:

iPhone 4 compatible

1.8 MB

Dazzling Flashlight 4g 1.0 is 99¢ (or equivalent in other
currencies) and available worldwide, exclusively through the App Store
in the Utilities category. Review copies are available upon
request.

Smart Tips: To make it more visible under sunshine, an antiglare
screen protector is suggested.

Cautions:

It is not suggested to cycling with your earphones, you may use a
pair of speakers/or the device's internal speaker if you would like to
listen to music while riding a bicycle.

it is not suggested to watch any type of move during cycling.

This is a mounting solution for a street bicycle, and not designed
for use with motorcycles or mountain bikes.

This mount is not designed for use with aggressive or extreme
bicycle riding. Decrease the risk of damage to your PDA from an
accident by using a self made strap to further secure the PDA in the
cradle is recommended.

USB Fever assumes no responsible of liability for the PDA or
operator of the bicycle if the PDA/Device is used while cycling.

Presentation

Wooden Desktop Cradle for iPad

PR: If you use your iPad as a digital photo frame or kind of
show case, this cradle may be ideal for you. Made of 100% solid real
wood, and can easily become become a part to your furniture. It has two
docks, one at 18° that makes your iPad as a display, and another at
45° that makes your iPad as a workstation.

19271861woodenipadstand2

Features:

Make your iPad on stage and never get lost

2 Angles for different scenarios (18° as a photo frame,45°
as a desktop computer)

Heavy Duty, making it as a firm stand for your iPad.

Make of 100% solid wood, easily become a part to your home
environment.

KB Stand: A Portable, Multi-Position Stand for
iPad

PR: KB Covers announces the release of the KB Stand for the
iPad. The KB Stand is a lightweight, portable, multi-position iPad
stand, which allows users to set the correct angle for their iPad,
achieving optimal ergonomics.

kbstand.jpg

"As an iPad user myself," says Operations Manager Eric Knight, "I've
tried numerous ways of keeping my iPad propped up on my desk, but
nothing worked well and the other stands on the market weren't
adjustable, nor portable and are very costly and our users were sharing
the same challenges. We saw that there was a marketplace for a stand
like ours."

Composed of 70% recyclable materials, the KB Stand for the iPad
provides multiple angles to hold your iPad device. With the push of a
single button, the KB Stand can fold up for easy storage or
portability, plus its stylish good looks make it the perfect companion
to the iPad. Because the legs of the KB Stand are extendable, it can
also be used with a laptop or notebook computer, plus it comes with a
stylish carrying bag.

"We're very excited to be continually expanding our lineup of Apple
accessory and lifestyle products," comments Greg Sad, Marketing
Director of KB Covers. "Our development roadmap is filled with new,
innovative products that will enhance the user's experience with their
Apple products."

For more information about KB Stands for the iPad, KB Covers
Keyboard Cover, or other available accessories, visit kbcovers.com or
kbstand.com.

The KB Stand for the iPad is available for purchase online at the KB
Covers store and in select music/audio resellers for $29.95

Through September 30, 2010, any online customer can enter the code
KBSTAND10 at checkout to receive a 10% discount.

@Rest for iPad: The Beautifully Simple (and
Strong) iPad Stand

PR: You have discovered uses for the iPad in the living room,
the kitchen, and at work. It's awesome. The one thing you have yet to
discover is a stand that does the iPad justice. Your search has
ended.

atrest.jpg

Built from precisely cut steel with a beautiful, durable powdercoat
finish in your choice of five colors (custom colors available at extra
cost).

atrestcol.jpg

@Rest for iPad supports your iPad in portrait or landscape
orientation at angles ideal for the side table or countertop. @Rest
holds your iPad at either 30 degrees or 60 degrees.

atrest2.jpg

@Rest is meant to reside wherever you use your iPad most often -
such as a desk, living room side table, bedside table, or kitchen
countertop. Its heavy, steel construction means it is not ideal for
pack-and-go use.

atrestfr.jpg

With its ingenious design, good looks, and excellent construction,
the 3.9" tall, 8.5" deep, 6.3" wide @Rest for iPad is sure to support
your current iPad, your next iPad, and the one after that.

Protection

Grantwood Technology Ships QuickSkin for iPad

PR: Grantwood Technology, LLC today announced QuickSkin for
iPad, a protective silicone skin for the Apple iPad. The QuickSkin has
a unique GroovyGrip pattern that makes the iPad easier to hold. The
QuickSkin is extra thick and surrounds the entire iPad with a durable
and protective cover. The QuickSkin also allows access to all the ports
and controls. The QuickSkin for iPad also fits perfectly into our
SimpleSleeve for iPad as a travel companion.

quickskin.jpg

The QuickSkin for iPad is a silicone sleeve designed specifically
for Apple's iPad. The soft yet very durable silicone is excellent
protection for the iPad. The QuickSkin is custom made for the iPad
specifications. The QuickSkin was made with a GroovyGrip design
pattern. This allows excellent holding ability of the iPad. The
silicone also has access to all the ports and controls and does not
cover the speakers nor the ambient light sensor.

Once your iPad is placed in the QuickSkin, it still fits perfectly
in the SimpleSleeve for iPad that Grantwood Technology offers. The
SimpleSleeve for iPad uses plush, fluffy material that will keep your
iPad in a super-friendly environment. The SimpleSleeve for iPad is a
perfect companion for the QuickSkin for iPad.

quickskin2.jpg

"We wanted a skin for the iPad that not only is protective, we
wanted a unique design to help us hold the iPad when using it, without
the iPad slipping out of our hands," states Michael Banks, cofounder
and CEO of Grantwood Technology, LLC. "The GroovyGrip pattern on the
back and sides of the skin give us that ability."

The QuickSkin for iPad retails for $19.99, with introductory pricing
available and also comes in two colors, black and cloud/clear.

Waterfield Designs Announces Two New Bumper-Fit
iPhone Cases

PR: Waterfield Designs announces the iPhone 4 Smart Case and
iPhone 4 Suede Jacket in new "Bumper-Fit" sizes to fit the Apple Bumper
Case. To avoid the widely reported reception issues associated with
using the Apple iPhone 4 'naked,' more users are utilizing the Apple
Bumper or similarly thin rubberized cases. To further protect the
screen and device from bumps and scratches, Waterfield now offers two
cases that specifically fit over these slim skins.

smartcase_iphone4_pearl_md.jpg

The iPhone 4 Smart Case - Bumper Fit

Unique, multilayered padding system with a high-impact, rigid
insert to protect screen

Naturally tanned, distressed, brown leather flanks each side for an
easy grip

"I see more people using the iPhone 4 with a silicon bumper case
because of the widely publicized reception issues associated with using
the iPhone 4 with a bare hand," noted owner, Gary Waterfield. "For
customers who want a case that will fit over these silicon cases, we
created the 'bumper-fit' sizes."

The iPhone 4 Smart Case - Three styles: Slip $39, Flap $45 and Clip
$45). Two sizes: one for the naked iPhone and one for the iPhone with
Bumper Case. Six colors: Black, Copper, Pine, Green, Flame or Pearl.
Available now for preorder at company website. Shipping begins July 15,
2010.

The iPhone 4 Suede Jacket - Two sizes: one for the naked iPhone and
one for the iPhone with Bumper Case. Bumper-Fit available in black.
Naked fit available in Black, Zebra and Cheetah. Available now at
company website.